Power Ranking Europe's Top 10 Clubs: Saints on the Rise

The club power rankings come to you this week in the midst of a Six Nations tournament that has diluted the strength of our top ten sides.

Nevertheless, just because the bodies filling the shirts are less well known, the points they are accruing are every bit as crucial as those piled up at any other time of the season.

A number of international squad players flooded back into their clubs last weekend as the Six Nations took a break, but there were still plenty of minnows looking to take advantage of the under-strength big boys.

9. (10) Leicester, Premiership

We last left the Tigers languishing in tenth spot in the power rankings, but they have battled manfully against injury and international call-ups to string back-to-back league wins together, one a thrilling 23-22 victory over strugglers Worcester at Sixways, the other a tight 11-8 win at home to Gloucester.

They still have work to do to get into the Premiership semi-final places, but as their injury problems ease with the imminent return of Manu Tuilagi they can look forward with optimism.

Despite four other English clubs sitting ahead of them on the home front, they are in the last eight of the Heineken Cup and only points difference keeps them behind fourth-place Harlequins.

7. (2) Toulouse, Top 14

Toulouse have dropped to seventh in the Top 14 after a home defeat to Montpellier on 7 February and a 16-6 win away to Biarritz last weekend.

They never found top gear in their Heineken Cup pool, but they did enough to nullify the threat of Saracens twice, meaning their shock defeat at home to Connacht caused them no more damage than wounded pride.

With so many players involved for France during the Six Nations and missing captain Thierry Dusautoir through injury, it’s no surprise their league form has become patchy.

4. (6) Leinster, PRO12

Leinster scored 31 points apiece in their last two games; recording wins over Zebre and the Dragons to stay on Munster’s heels in the PRO12.

Experienced campaigners Leo Cullen, Shane Jennings and Zane Kirchner are proving valuable assets while their squad is decimated by Irish call-ups, although they were bolstered last weekend by the return of Eoin Reddan, Fergus McFadden, Mike McCarthy and Ian Madigan.

Irish rugby is enjoying a strength in depth like never before at present.

2. (5) Toulon, Top 14

Toulon beat reigning champions Castres at home last weekend with a 19-13 victory following up by a 33-20 win over Biarritz.

They stay fourth, a point behind Stade Francais, and they will be looking to hit top form for the visit of Leinster in April.

The European champions are having to cope without their coach on the sidelines after Bernard Laporte was handed a 13-week ban for his outburst at a referee, so they’ll be thankful for wise old heads like Matt Giteau and Jonny Wilkinson in the side.

The Australian scored a late try to add to Wilko’s 14 points from the boot to keep Toulon in the playoff places.

1. (1) Clermont Auvergne, Top 14

Clermont suffered a shock defeat to lowly Grenoble, 16-13, but they remain top by a point ahead of Montpellier.

There was further bad news from the defeat to the men from the Alps when it emerged hooker Benjamin Kayser had suffered knee damage that has curtailed his involvement in France’s quest for the Six Nations Grand Slam.

This weekend sees the top two meet at Stade de Marcel Michelin, where Clermont will have to defend their long-standing unbeaten record without Kayser and fellow French international Wesley Fofana, who will be on duty this Friday night in Cardiff against Wales.